PAAIA Hosts Annual Reception for Iranian American Capitol Hill and Administration Staff
July 23, 2013, Washington, D.C. – The Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) held its annual reception for Iranian Americans who work for members of Congress and the Executive Branch on July 18, 2013. The guests, who also included Iranian Americans working for government consulting firms and nonprofit organizations, got a chance to mingle and network with one another in an intimate setting.
The receptions’ featured guests were James “JD” Derderian, Founder and Managing Partner of the Stanton Park Group, LLC, Andy Halataei, Director of Government Relations of the Information Technology Council, and Cookab Hashemi, Chief of Staff of Congresswoman Jackie Speier.
Derderian encouraged all the guests to keep pushing forward with their career path, even when it seemed difficult. “Washington D.C. is the major leagues of decision-making… Keep it up.” All of the special guests commended the work that PAAIA is doing as well as the importance of coming together as a community. “When I first heard about PAAIA, I thought it’s about time,” said Halataei, referring to the need to build a positive image of Iranian Americans. Hashemi also reminded the guests that in addition to everything they accomplish professionally, they should not forget what they can do together as a community. “Everyone look around the room,” she said. “You’re the next generation of Iranian Americans that will be leading this country.”
With the successful completion of this event, PAAIA continues its goal of facilitating the creation of a network of Iranian Americans in public service. PAAIA commends the participants’ dedication to public service and underscores its commitment as an organization to further empower the Iranian American community in the public arena by expanding opportunities for and encouraging the active participation of Iranian Americans in the public life of the United States.
Click here to view a photo gallery of the reception on Facebook.
